7 2 SO VTH- J VE STERN A SI A 



the existing breeds are of great antiquity, pigeons having been kept long previous 

 to the Christian era. In the Middle Ages the number of breeds was considerable, 

 and these were greatlv increased when the sea route to India was opened, and 

 Eastern pigeons introduced into the Netherlands, whence the breeding of fancy 

 varieties as a hobby spread into England, France, and other European 



countries. 



To mention the many varieties now kept would occupy too much space, and to 

 classify them is not easy. The largest are the runts of which there are several 

 well-marked strains; the smallest is the white African owl which originated in 

 Turin. The carriers, dragons, and barbs are distinguished by the development of 

 the eye-wattles, the pouters by the abnormal size of the crop, which, as in the 

 pigmy variety, is so large as to almost bury the head. In the jacobins the head is 

 buried in a hood, in the frills the head in many cases is crested, and all the feathers 

 of the throat and chest curl up so as to form a sort of ruff. In the fantails the 

 fancier has devoted his attention to developing the tail, which spreads out in 

 peacock-fashion. The tumblers, so called from their curious acrobatic flight, are 

 remarkable for their power of staying on the wing for hours. It was this quality 

 which led to their being crossed with the dragons, which are as noteworthy for 

 their speed, and with the smerle, which had a great reputation for strength and 

 intelligence, in order to produce the most useful pigeons now bred, namely, the 

 homers, good examples of which are worth £100 apiece. 



The turtle-dove ranges through south-western Asia as far east as 

 Turtle Doves. p ergia . but in sou thern Asia generally, west of India, we have the 

 collared turtle-dove (Turtur risorius), which is usually regarded as the ancestor 

 of the variety so often kept in confinement. This dove, whose distributional area 

 is bounded on the west by Turkey, is pale brown above and pale ivory-grey below. 

 There is a black band on the sides of the neck, and the middle tail-feathers are 

 brown throughout, while the others are dark brown at the base on the upper side, 

 and whitish towards the tips. This dove is from 11 to 12 J inches long, and has 

 dark red legs and feet. 



Of the herons, the common species ranges over the whole Eastern 

 Hemisphere, and the purple heron (Ardea purpurea) has a similar 

 distribution although its haunts are quite different. Instead of installing itself in 

 the neighbourhood of running water, the latter bird keeps mainly to pools and 

 swamps where aquatic plants are abundant, amid which it fishes in the usual 

 quiet heron fashion. The nest is generally placed in the middle of the swamp, 

 amongst the densest reeds, or on willows and other bushes near the water, or 

 occasionally, as in Ceylon, on a teak tree. It is built of reeds bent down to form 

 a sort of stage, twigs, leaves, and other materials. When reposing, this graceful 

 bird generally sits down on its hind legs, with its long neck forming a double curve. 

 If surprised, it stands motionless with its neck and beak directed straight upwards, 

 so as to assume the appearance of a crooked stick. This attitude, as in the case of 

 the bittern, is generally adopted at the approach of man, and the bird rarely takes 

 to flight until the intruder is in close proximity. When enraged, it bristles 

 up the stiff feathers on the crown and attacks its adversary with its long 

 and formidable beak. Although less wary, the present species resembles the 



